Wings of Promise by Bonnie Leon Read Free Book Online Page B

dressed and followed Nena to the kitchen.
    Peter lay on the table, looking terrified and quite ill. Joe stuffed wood into the stove even though the room was already unbearably hot.
    “What’s wrong with him?” Kate asked.
    Paul had set out instruments on the table. “I’m pretty sure it’s an inflamed appendix.” He took Kate aside, out of reach of Peter’s hearing. His voice soft, he said, “If it ruptures, he could die. I’ve got to get it out.”
    Kate’s stomach plummeted. She glanced at Peter, unable to imagine the rambunctious little boy dying. “Do you know how to do that?”
    “Yes.” His expression was grim. “But I’ve never done a surgery under such primitive conditions.”
    “I have confidence in you,” Kate said, resting her hand on his arm.
    Paul’s gaze moved to Nena, then back to Kate. “I need someone to assist me. Nena’s going to take care of the anesthetic.”
    Kate’s heart sped up. “I can barely tolerate a man’s stinking feet. How do you expect me to do surgery?” She glanced at Peter. “I can’t do it.”
    “You’ll just be helping.” Paul’s dark brown eyes bore into Kate’s. “I need you.” He glanced at Joe. “Better you than Joe.”
    Kate took a quaking breath. She had no choice. “What do you want me to do?”

— 4 —
    P aul washed his hands and dried them, then moved to the table where Peter lay beneath a sheet. He leaned over the boy and smiled down at him. In a soothing voice he said, “We’ll have you good as new in no time.”
    Kate blew out a shaky breath and tried to relax tight muscles. Could she do this? She glanced at Joe. The worry in his heart lined his face and darkened his eyes, and then she looked at young Peter. Yes, she’d do whatever was needed.
    “What you going to do?” Peter’s voice trembled.
    Paul rested a hand on the child’s shoulder. “I’m going to take out your sick appendix.” He squeezed gently. “Your mama and daddy are here. And Kate too.”
    “How you gonna get it out?”
    Paul didn’t answer right away. “Well . . . I have some medicine.” He removed a container of ether he’d been heating over a burning candle. “It’ll make you sleep, and when you wake up, your appendix will be out. You’ll feel much better.”
    Wide-eyed, Peter looked at his mother, then his father, who stood at her side.
    Nena gently stroked his hair. “Your daddy and I are right here. Dr. Anderson is a good doctor.” She pressed a kiss to his brow.
    Paul covered a small handheld mask with gauze. “I’m going to put this over your nose. Just breathe like you always do and soon you’ll be asleep.” He placed it over the boy’s nose and mouth, then dispensed two drops of ether onto the gauze. Peter’s eyes closed.
    Paul watched him for a moment, then said, “Nena, keep the mask over his nose, and if he stirs or acts like he’s waking up, place one drop of ether on the gauze. No more than that.” He raised his eyebrows. “Let me know if his lips look the least bit blue or if his skin becomes abnormally pale. Also keep an eye on his breathing to make sure it doesn’t slow down too much.”
    “I’ll keep watch,” Joe said.
    “This is a dangerous medicine?” Nena asked.
    “It’s good medicine, but we need to be cautious.” He offered her an encouraging smile. “I know what I’m doing. He’ll come through just fine.”
    Fear glinted in Nena’s eyes as she took hold of the mask and accepted the ether. And yet, her hand was steady.
    Paul turned to Kate. “I’ll need you to stanch any excess bleeding. And it’s hot in here, so if you can keep the sweat off my forehead and out of my eyes, that’ll help.”
    Kate realized she was clenching her teeth. She couldn’t remember being more terrified. “How do I stanch the—”
    “Use this clamp.” Paul held up what looked like long-handled tongs. He placed a piece of heavy gauze in the instrument and handed it to Kate. “Get more dressing as you